Chapter 58: The easiest interrogation 2_2

"I'm not lying!"

I denied it in a panic. then...

Ding! Ding!

The bell chimes again.

"What's that bell sound?"

"That voice came from the Bell of Truth," Ellis explained. Then, she picked up a small bell at the end of the table and placed it in front of me. "This Bell or Magic Tool will make a sound every time it detects a lie."

For Heaven's Sake! I didn't know that this world had such a scary Magic Tool!

"I don't need a tool like that to know if big sis is lying or not. I just need to look at big sis ears and tails. Then, I'll know if Big Sis is lying or not."

"Now you know you can't lie. Please tell me everything."

"No! I want my right to remain silent!"

Ellis paused for a moment after seeing my behaviour. "I never thought that you're quite childish."

"I'm not!"

"Well... Let's leave that. Back in this new Dungeon, did you know that you would get rewards if you truly found a Dungeon? The Adventurer's Guild and Lord of Rishtonbell will be happy to reward you greatly. Therefore, Miss Eclaite, please tell me about this Lost City Beldea."

Oh! That's new. I didn't know I would be rewarded if I reported the Lost City Beldea!

But... There were many treasures in that Dungeon. Is reporting this Dungeon worth it than keeping it to myself?

"Please don't think about keeping that Dungeon to yourself."

"Huh?"

"Dungeons are a dangerous natural phenomenon. Dungeons could create Stampede of Monsters. The safety of a city and tens of thousands of lives could be threatened if a Dungeon was not properly handled or taken care of. I hope you don't bow down to the greed and let such a disaster occurred."

Ugh! Heavy, really heavy and piercing to the heart.

After hearing that, it was hard for me to say no. In the end, I chose to give up.

"... Miss Ellis wants to know?" I asked in a soft voice and Ellis nodded. "Okay... But... More precisely, what do you want to know?"

"I want to know everything you know. The location of the Dungeon, the type of monsters and the shape of the room within the Dungeon, how many floors the Dungeon had, and so on. And if you've already explored the Dungeon, I want you to show me all the stuff you managed to get and take home. We have to make full documentation before we reporting it."

"... All right."

"I'm listening."

To explain about The Lost City Beldea, I took a simple map from inside my small Leather Bag and placed it on the table.

"First, the location of The Lost City Beldea is here." I pointed to a circle on the map. Then I started telling her how I found Beldea and my adventures there. This time, I remember not to tell her about the information I got from Ark Fantasy Online. I also didn't tell her about the silhouette and the strange events that happened to me. I didn't want to make Kimi who is also listening to my story becomes worried.

"That's pretty much of information," Ellis said as she take a note of my story. When she finished, she looked at me. "Now we need proof. Miss Eclaite, are you bringing the items, magic stones from The Corpse Walker, or so on from the Dungeon back?"

"I have the ruby, these coins, and these two bracelets," I said as I placed some silver coins and two jewelled bracelets on the table.

Ellis began to assess the two items. "This is a four hundred years old coin. While these two bracelets are Magic Equipment. This could be proof but it's still not enough."

"Then, what should we do?"

"Hmm..." Ellis put on a thinking expression then crossed her arms.

When she is in thinking mode, I tried the tea served. I smiled when I found out the tea was delicious. Then...

"I will enlist the help of some Guild Staffs to conduct an investigation. A dungeon Specialist's testimony would provide a plus and strong evidence. I'm going to organize this expedition, you don't have to worry," Ellis said with a big smile.

Then I wondered, "Why would you bother doing all this?"

"Because I want a promotion!" she replied excitedly. Flames of ambition smouldering in her eyes.

"Miss Ellis... I didn't know you had this kind of personality. I feel like you're being a horrible person by manipulating and take advantage of me."

"Miss Eclaite, we need a high position to have a good life. And I'm sure you know this is not a bad thing and I am not manipulating and take advantage of you, I'm helping you."

"That words feels so wrong and not convincing me at all but I understand. Can I know when it all ends?"

"Two or three days."

"Okay. Oh, miss Ellis, do you know someone who can appraise an item? I want to know more about these two bracelets."

Ellis smiled then nodded. "You don't have to find someone else, I can do it for you."

"This bracelet is called the Bracelet of Defense," said Ellis, who picked up the bracelet with a green gem. "A high-grade equipment that will give you ten points for END."

"As for this one." Ellis picked up another bracelet jewelled with a red gem. "This bracelet, a Rare-Grade that will give you a Skill? Power Blow? Well, well, isn't this bracelet quite charming?"

"I think you're the interesting one. How can you get an Appraisal Skill?"

"Are you interested in Appraisal?"

I nodded because I was extremely interested. I know how useful that Advance Skill is! That skill will allow me to see the names, levels, and skills of the monsters I see. And best of all I can also see the names of items followed by an explanation about them.

But...

To obtain an Appraisal Skill a Player must obtain a B-rank Permit from the Merchant's Guild. A permit will be obtained after a Player got earnings over a hundred thousand gold coins from their trades.

Because of that, if there was an easier way to learn an Appraisal Skill, I wouldn't miss it.

"I can give you a letter of introduction to my acquaintance in Merchant's Guild. With that, I'm sure you'll be able to purchase an Orb Skill containing an Appraisal Skill. And you must know, to buy that Orb Skill you need twenty gold coins."

"Skill Orb? Twenty gold coins?"

"It's a yellow jewel ball that will give you a skill. And for your information, twenty gold coins is a cheap price. You will know more about an Orb Skill when you purchase one from the Merchant's Guild. Now, let's go back to the counter table. I'll write the letter for you there."